Yankees Indians Game 5 Free Pick

Cleveland was already looking ahead to a return trip to the ALCS as they took a commanding 2-0 ALDS lead over the Yankees. Then a trip to the Big Apple happened and New York has somehow tied up a series that they were all but eliminated from. They not only got the wins, but also exhausted Cleveland’s bullpen in the process and now the Yankees Indians Game 5 Free Pick almost feels like the Yankees’ to take.

Of course Cleveland does send imminent Cy Young winner Corey Kluber to the mound to face 37-year-old CC Sabathia. Kluber was beyond solid in the regular season, but had a rough go of it in game two of the ALDS. With the Yankees ability to generate instant offense and Cleveland’s history of faltering in big moments – who is really feeling the pressure in this one?

My whole life people have hated the Yankees for being front runners who always win. Now, people hate them for being underdog comeback kids ????

— Christina Noelle (@BallparkBitch) October 11, 2017

Sabathia Takes the Ball For the Yankees Indians Game 5 Free Pick

The Yankees would be preparing for a trip to the National Museum of Funeral History by now and preparing for a series with the Astros if they could have held on to an 8-3 lead in the 6th inning of game two. Sabathia pitched into the 6th in that game, allowing only 2ER. Sabathia was much better than the heavily favored Kluber (Cleveland was -225 in that game) who allowed 6 runs on 7 hits and couldn’t get out of the third inning.

Sabathia should be comfortable too. He’s making his 20th career postseason start in a city where he spent 8 years as a player. Even if Sabathia does struggle, manager Joe Girardi has “all hands on deck” for the crucial elimination game thanks to Luis Severino pitching 7 innings in the game 4 win and Masahiro Tanaka doing the same in game 6.

Will the Pressure Get to Kluber?

At what point do these postseason yips start getting to Indians pitcher Corey Kluber. In addition to the game two fiasco, it was Kluber who took the mound with history on his shoulders in Game 7 of the World Series last year. Dexter Fowler promptly sent Kluber’s fourth pitch over the center field wall and Javy Baez hit another in the 5th to send the right hander to the showers. This was supposed to be ‘the year’ for Cleveland as they were the top seed in the AL. There’s more tension on Cleveland in the Yankees Indians Game 5 Free Pick tonight than you think – especially when New York has nothing to lose.

In Kluber we trust #Believeland pic.twitter.com/JVvk1ot5G6

— Ryan Snedeker (@rjsneddy) October 11, 2017

Yankees Indians Game 5 Free Pick Betting

There’s added pressure on Kluber to get through the sixth inning because Cleveland’s bullpen is so worn out. They will have Andrew Miller with two days off but expecting anything more than two innings out of him is pushing it. The Indians are huge favorites at home (-200) but sometimes in pressure packed situations like this it’s almost easier to play on the road. The Yankees have the capability for instant offense as they led the majors with 241 HRs this season. Nearly 60% of the public is on Cleveland in this game, but in an unpredictable elimination game situation the real value is on the other side.

Pick: Yankees +185